Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has threatened to force around one million Palestinians to leave Gaza City if Hamas abducts an Israeli soldier or civilian.
Katz said the entire city would be evacuated southward and warned that homes and infrastructure would also be destroyed. He directed the warning at Hamas and what he described as its supporters, including Iran and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Katz said Israel would continue its military campaign and would not withdraw to new positions inside Gaza while Hamas remains armed and Israel considers it an ongoing threat.
The warning comes amid continued fighting and displacement in Gaza. Katz has previously said that removing Palestinians from Gaza remains part of his proposed approach to the territory, while US officials have said they do not support forcibly displacing Palestinians.
The latest threat has drawn attention because international humanitarian law places strict limits on the forcible displacement of civilians during armed conflict.
